Lake County Board Approves Urgent Precinct Consolidations

URGENT UPDATE: The Lake County Board of Elections and Registration has just approved critical precinct consolidations in response to a directive from Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales. This decision, finalized during a meeting on July 30, 2023, aims to prevent voter confusion by addressing significant splits created by the state’s recent proposals.

Secretary Morales had previously alerted the county in a letter dated July 2023 that, under Indiana law, precincts with fewer than 600 active voters must consolidate post-presidential elections. The Lake County board responded decisively, voting unanimously to consolidate 29 precincts, while five others saw a split decision with a 3-2 vote along party lines.

This move comes as a necessary correction to avoid complications on Election Day, where poll workers might struggle with multiple precincts and ballot encoders. “Splits can be very confusing. It’s confusing to voters. It’s confusing to candidates,” said Michelle Fajman, Director of the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration. “We are working to clean up precinct splits to ensure a smooth voting process.”

The board submitted two reports regarding the precinct consolidations: one from Fajman and another from Jessica Messler, the Republican assistant director. Fajman emphasized, “It was not a Democrat plan; it was a board looking at specific precincts that were under 600.” Messler added that her report was a public record of discussions held during board meetings.

Despite the board’s consolidations, Morales’s adjustments created eight additional splits affecting various county councils and school districts, leading to further confusion. For instance, merging Gary 5-13 with Gary 5-16 caused a county council split, while the merger of East Chicago 02 and East Chicago 24 led to both city council and school board splits.

During a critical meeting on October 21, 2023, the board voted 3-2 to revert the Secretary of State’s changes, reaffirming their original consolidation plan. This means the board will now submit the approved plans for state consideration. Fajman noted that if approved, notices of the consolidations will be issued; otherwise, a hearing will be held by the election division.

As Lake County navigates these urgent electoral changes, the community remains on edge, aware of the implications these decisions hold for their voting experience. The board’s commitment to streamlining precincts reflects a broader goal to enhance voter clarity and engagement in the upcoming elections.

With the election division now reviewing these proposals, the situation remains dynamic. Residents and stakeholders are urged to stay informed as the board’s next steps unfold. The stakes are high as Lake County aims to ensure a fair and accessible voting process for all its citizens.